An Edinburgh woman who had to give up her job and use a mobility scooter after doctors took six years to diagnose her with a chronic lung condition has called for lung health to be taken more seriously.
The call comes after new research showed one in five people waits more than four years to be diagnosed.
Vivienne Gaynor, 60, says it took around six years to get a diagnosis with deadly lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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"I developed asthma as an adult and was given inhalers. But when I was 45, my breathing changed, and I noticed that my inhalers were less effective, and I kept getting chest infections and was wheezy all the time," she said.
"Over the next six years, I lost count of the number of times I went to see my GP with a chest infection or trouble breathing, but all I was told was: It's just asthma or keep using the inhalers," she added.
Ms Gaynor said she struggled to get up the stairs and always felt tired. She said she we never given a formal diagnosis and was simply told to pick up an inhaler.
"There was no explanation and no support," she said.
"I swapped surgeries straightaway, and since then, the treatment I have received has been pretty good, and I realise I'm lucky for that.
"But it still makes me angry that I was so easily dismissed, and the impact of the delayed diagnosis meant that I had to give up the job I loved as a mental health advocate, and now have to use a mobility scooter to get around.
"Lung health isn't taken seriously enough, and nobody seems to understand what COPD is, and that it's a very chronic condition with no cure.
"If I had been suffering with cancer or a heart problem, I don't think I'd have had to wait so long for a diagnosis and would probably have received much more empathy and support."
Ms Gaynor's story comes as part of research by Asthma and Lung UK Scotland showing one in five people surveyed with COPD waits more than four years to be diagnosed and less than a fifth were receiving proper treatment.
The report, titled Delayed Diagnosis and Unequal Care, surveyed 607 people with the disease and found 11.5 per cent of Scots with COPD waited more than a decade for a diagnosis.
The charity is now calling for lung health to become an "urgent priority" ahead of world COPD day on Tuesday.
Delays of this length can cause serious issues for people such as severe breathlessness and losing lung function.
Late diagnosis means people are living with a poorer quality of life.
Almost a third (30 per cent) of Scots surveyed said they were unable to recognise the signs of COPD and more than one in 10 (12 per cent) said they were misdiagnosed as their doctor thought they had a chest infection or cough.
Asthma and Lung UK Scotland has called for quality spirometry to fully return across the healthcare system which was halted during the pandemic and is still unavailable in many areas.
Spirometry is a diagnostic test which is used to monitor and treat lung conditions such as COPD.
Joseph Carter, head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said: "Across Scotland, far too many people are waiting in limbo for a diagnosis of COPD and access to treatment and support.
"There also needs to be a greater awareness of the condition and the signs and symptoms to look out for. We have heard from people struggling to breathe, who, because they are left unaware of their condition, aren't getting the right treatment and support quick enough.
"To achieve this, we are calling on the Scottish Government to ensure everyone can access spirometry in their local area. Far too many surgeries stopped providing the vital diagnostic test during Covid and we need to get it back.
"We welcome the Scottish Government's commitment to the Respiratory Care Action Plan, but it is vital that health boards locally are able to fund spirometry testing and other basic services people with COPD need.
"We need better, more joined-up care for people diagnosed with COPD, and improved access to vital treatments and support. Anyone experiencing breathlessness should go to Asthma + Lung UK's website for information and support, and if necessary, seek medical advice. No one should be left fighting for breath."
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